It’s hard to believe that the Cadillac CTS Sport Sedan has been on the road since 2002 when it was introduced as a 2003 model. The edgy design was an immediate hit with American consumers and it was pivotal in Cadillac’s re-emergence as a manufacturer of world-class luxury cars.

Improvements over the years have helped keep the CTS at or near the top of consumer buying lists and earned the car critical praise, including being named to the Car and Driver 10 Best list, Popular Mechanics’ Auto Excellence Awards and Automobile magazine’s All-Star list.

In 2012, the CTS gets a lighter and more powerful version of the 3.6-liter V-6 with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing, a re-design of the distinctive “shield” grille, new exterior colors and a new Touring Package edition.

The 270 hp DI V-6 is the standard engine in Base and Luxury models. Along with direct injection technology, it has continuously variable valve timing to optimize power and fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The new V-6 gets an EPA-estimated 18/27 mpg despite delivering about 5 percent more horsepower — 318 hp vs. 304 hp in 2011. The CTS Sedan is available with a 3.0-liter engine in Base and Luxury models, and with a 3.6-liter engine in Performance and Premium models. All are available with either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.

Direct injection (DI) technology — also used on the 3.6-liter engine — enables a balance of performance and fuel economy, delivering fuel more precisely to increase combustion efficiency, thus using use less fuel releasing fewer emissions; it also reduces cold-start emissions by up to 25 percent.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard with RWD models equipped with the 3.0-liter V-6, while the Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic is available. The automatic is standard on 3.6L RWD models and all models with the available all-wheel-drive system. It is also available with paddle-shifters.